Have you discovered the lure of polymer clay?  Are you surprised that I’d describe it as a “lure?”  Once a product used mostly in doll making, then treated as a toy, polymer clay is now a respected, versatile art medium available to everyone.  What you do with it is up to you.

I first was tempted by the polymer clay I saw in craft stores.  The neat colorful squares in tidy rows were a mystery.  I could bake it in my own oven?  I could make something “permanent” with a product that looked just like the oily modeling clay I played with as a child?  Two things prompted me finally to buy some, and try it out.  The first was the introduction of the Studio Line of colors from Sculpey.  The muted, blended colors were much more enticing than the stark reds and yellows and blues I saw in the “regular” clays.  (Granted, I knew little of color theory and blending my OWN colors, muted or otherwise, at that point.) The second nudge in the direction of creation was finding Desiree McCrory’s tutorial for swirled lentil beads on her website: http://desiredcreations.com/howTo_CALentilSwirl.htm

I was inspired.  I decided *I* could do that!  I bought some clay, and pretty soon I was swirling away!  Well, sort of.  My color choices were questionable, my conditioning was less than stellar, and my lentil shapes were a bit wonky.  But with practice, I was pretty pleased with my swirly results!

I still love making swirled lentils.  Now I might be inclined to include some glitter, some embossing powder, some frost or metallic clays, even parts of clay canes. I’ve also learned the importance of sanding and buffing.

I’ve done a lot more with polymer clay, some of which is best forgotten, and some of which is gorgeous.  And the things I have NOT tried yet far outnumber what I HAVE tried….polymer clay is so very versatile.  I’m really still a beginner, and I learn more all the time.  I can’t imagine abandoning polymer clay anytime soon…too much yet to discover!